Tarp loading structure and method for using same

Abstract

A building structure for covering a large object with a cover comprising: multiple frames, each frame being part of a building structure); at least one motor suspended from at least one of said plurality of frames and connected to one or more spools; and an arm lifting structure suspended from the frame and comprising: at least two arms; a plurality of lifting connectors, each attached on one end to an arm on a first end and attached to one of the spools on a second end; and at least one fastening roller member mounted to each arm for temporarily securing the cover to the arms. Alternate embodiments of the building structure include laterally and/or longitudinally translating motors and/or guides for ensuring that the arms are raised and lowered straight up and down.

1. A tarp-loading building structure comprising:
 a building; 
 a plurality of frames; 
 at least one motor supported by at least one of said plurality of frames; 
 a plurality of spools, each of said plurality of spools mechanically engaging said at least one motor; and 
 an arm lifting structure supported by said plurality of frames, said arm lifting structure comprising: 
 a plurality of arms; 
 a plurality of lifting connectors, each of said plurality of lifting connectors secured on one end to one end of one of said plurality of arms and secured on a second end to one of said plurality of spools; and 
 at least one fastening roller member mounted to said plurality of arms for non-permanently securing a covering to said arm lifting structure; 
 wherein as said at least one motor is operated, each of said plurality of spools rotates to raise or lower said plurality of arms; and 
 wherein the plurality of frames provide structural support of the building as well as being for use in applying a covering to a large object, wherein said at least one fastening roller member is comprised of: 
 a vertical support member, having a first end and a second end; 
 a first horizontal member fixedly secured to said first end of said vertical support member, forming an L shape with said vertical support member and having portions forming a slot; 
 a second horizontal member fixedly secured to said second end of said vertical support member, forming an L shape with said vertical support member; 
 a fastening mechanism for attaching said one or more fastening roller members to said plurality of arms; and 
 a cover grasping mechanism, wherein each of said at least one fastening roller member is further comprised of a quick release hanger, said quick release hanger comprised of: 
 a base member; 
 two side members; 
 an angled plate; 
 a cross plate; and 
 two side plates, wherein said angled plate and said cross plate form an opening therebetween to receive a strap, and each of said two side plates functionally engage said two side members and pivot about a pivot to non-permanently secure said strap within said quick release hanger. 
 
     
     
       2. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least one motor is movable along one of said plurality of frames or along a purlin between two of said plurality of frames to change a lateral dimension or a longitudinal dimension of said arm lifting structure. 
     
     
       3. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said arm lifting structure further includes an arm alignment mechanism to ensure that each of said plurality of arms is raised and lowered generally straight up and down. 
     
     
       4. The structure of  claim 3 , wherein said arm alignment mechanism is selected from a group comprised of at least one guide, at least one beam, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       5. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said large object is selected from a group comprising a loaded bed of a truck and a rail car and wherein said covering is made of a material selected from a group comprising plastic, canvas, and cloth. 
     
     
       6. The structure of  claim 1 , wherein said structure further comprises a second arm lifting structure supported by said plurality of frames, said second arm lifting structure positioned in series behind said arm lifting structure to load a second covering on a large object. 
     
     
       7. A building structure for covering a large object with a cover comprising:
 a building structure; 
 a plurality of frames, each of said plurality of frames being part of the building structure; 
 at least one motor suspended from at least one of said plurality of frames; 
 a plurality of spools, each of said plurality of spools mechanically engaging said at least one motor; and 
 an arm lifting structure suspended from said plurality of frames, said arm lifting structure comprising: 
 a first arm and a second arm; 
 a first lifting connector, a second lifting connector, a third lifting connector, and 
 a fourth lifting connector, said first lifting connector secured on a first end to a first end of said first arm and on a second end to one of said plurality of spools, said second lifting connector secured on a first end to a second end of said first arm and on a second end to one of said plurality of spools, said third lifting connector secured on a first end to a first end of said second arm and on a second end to one of said plurality of spools, and said fourth lifting connector secured on a first end to a second end of said second arm and on a second end to one of said plurality of spools; and 
 at least one fastening roller member mounted to each of said first arm and said second arm for non-permanently securing said cover to said arm lifting structure; 
 wherein as said at least one motor is operated, each of said plurality of spools rotates to raise or lower said first arm, said second arm, and said cover; and 
 wherein the plurality of frames provide structural support of the building as well as being for use in applying a covering to a large object, wherein said at least one motor is a first motor and a second motor, said first motor mechanically connected to a first spool of said plurality of spools and said first spool is mechanically connected to a second spool of said plurality of spools such that said first motor drives said first spool and said second spool, and said second motor is mechanically connected to a third spool of said plurality of spools and said third spool is mechanically connected to a fourth spool of said plurality of spools such that said second motor drives said third spool and said fourth spool, wherein said first motor and said second motor are electronically connected to each other so that said first motor and said second motor operate simultaneously, wherein each of said at least one fastening roller member is further comprised of a quick release hanger, said quick release hanger comprised of:
 a base member; 
 two side members; 
 an angled plate; 
 a cross plate; and 
 two side plates, wherein said angled plate and said cross plate form an opening therebetween to receive a strap, and each of said two side plates functionally engage said two side members and pivot about a pivot to non-permanently secure said strap within said quick release hanger. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The structure of  claim 7 , wherein each of said at least one motor is movable along one of said plurality of frames or along a purlin between two of said plurality of frames. 
     
     
       9. The structure of  claim 7 , wherein said arm lifting structure further includes an arm alignment mechanism to ensure that said first arm and said second arm are raised and lowered generally straight up and down, said arm alignment mechanism is selected from a group comprised of at least one guide, at least one beam, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       10. The structure of  claim 7 , wherein said large object is selected from a group comprising a loaded bed of a truck and a rail car and wherein said cover is made of a material selected from a group comprising plastic, canvas, and cloth. 
     
     
       11. The structure of  claim 7 , wherein said structure further comprises a second arm lifting structure suspended from said plurality of frames, said second arm lifting structure positioned in series behind said arm lifting structure to load a second covering on a large object. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus comprising:
 a building; 
 a plurality of frames; 
 at least one motor suspended from at least one of said plurality of frames; 
 a plurality of spools, each of said plurality of spools mechanically engaging said at least one motor; 
 an arm lifting structure supported by said plurality of frames, said arm lifting structure comprising: 
 a plurality of arms; 
 a plurality of lifting connectors, each of said plurality of lifting connectors secured on one end to one end of one of said plurality of arms and secured on a second end to one of said plurality of spools; and 
 at least one fastening roller member mounted to said plurality of arms for non-permanently securing a covering to said arm lifting structure; 
 wherein as said at least one motor is operated, each of said plurality of spools rotates to raise or lower said plurality of arms; and 
 an arm alignment mechanism to ensure that each of said plurality of arms is raised and lowered generally straight up and down, wherein said arm alignment mechanism is selected from a group comprised of at least one guide, at least one beam, and combinations thereof; and 
 wherein the plurality of frames provide structural support of the building as well as being for use in applying a covering to a large object, wherein said at least one fastening roller member is comprised of: 
 a vertical support member, having a first end and a second end; 
 a first horizontal member fixedly secured to said first end of said vertical support member, forming an L shape with said vertical support member and having portions forming a slot; 
 a second horizontal member fixedly secured to said second end of said vertical support member, forming an L shape with said vertical support member; 
 a fastening mechanism for attaching said one or more fastening roller members to said plurality of arms; and a cover grasping mechanism, wherein each of said at least one fastening roller member is further comprised of a quick release hanger, said quick release hanger comprised of: 
 a base member; 
 two side members; 
 an angled plate; 
 a cross plate; and 
 two side plates, wherein said angled plate and said cross plate form an opening therebetween to receive a strap, and each of said two side plates functionally engage said two side members and pivot about a pivot to non-permanently secure said strap within said quick release hanger. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each of said at least one motor is movable along one of said plurality of frames or along a purlin between two of said plurality of frames to change a lateral dimension or a longitudinal dimension of said arm lifting structure. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said large object is selected from a group comprising a loaded bed of a truck and a rail car and wherein said covering is made of a material selected from a group comprising plastic, canvas, and cloth. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said structure further comprises a second arm lifting structure supported by said plurality of frames, said second arm lifting structure positioned in series behind said arm lifting structure to load a second covering on a large object. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus comprising:
 a building structure; 
 a plurality of frames, each of said plurality of frames being part of the building structure; 
 at least one motor supported by at least one of said plurality of frames, 
 wherein each of said at least one motor is movable along one of said plurality of frames or along a purlin between two of said plurality of frames to change a lateral dimension or a longitudinal dimension of said arm lifting structure; 
 a plurality of spools, each of said plurality of spools mechanically engaging said at least one motor; and 
 an arm lifting structure supported by said plurality of frames, said arm lifting structure comprising: 
 a plurality of arms; 
 a plurality of lifting connectors, each of said plurality of lifting connectors secured on one end to one end of one of said plurality of arms and secured on a second end to one of said plurality of spools; and 
 at least one fastening roller member mounted to said plurality of arms for non-permanently securing a covering to said arm lifting structure; 
 wherein as said at least one motor is operated, each of said plurality of spools rotates to raise or lower said plurality of arms; and 
 wherein the plurality of frames provide structural support of the building as well as being for use in applying a covering to a large object, wherein said at least one fastening roller member is comprised of: 
 a vertical support member, having a first end and a second end; 
 a first horizontal member fixedly secured to said first end of said vertical support member, forming an L shape with said vertical support member and having portions forming a slot; 
 a second horizontal member fixedly secured to said second end of said vertical support member, forming an L shape with said vertical support member; 
 a fastening mechanism for attaching said one or more fastening roller members to said plurality of arms; and a cover grasping mechanism, wherein each of said at least one fastening roller member is further comprised of a quick release hanger, said quick release hanger comprised of: 
 a base member; 
 two side members; 
 an angled plate; 
 a cross plate; and 
 two side plates, wherein said angled plate and said cross plate form an opening therebetween to receive a strap, and each of said two side plates functionally engage said two side members and pivot about a pivot to non-permanently secure said strap within said quick release hanger. 
 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said arm lifting structure further includes an arm alignment mechanism to ensure that each of said plurality of arms is raised and lowered generally straight up and down, said arm alignment mechanism being selected from a group comprised of at least one guide, at least one beam, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said large object is selected from a group comprising a loaded bed of a truck and a rail car and wherein said covering is made of a material selected from a group comprising plastic, canvas, and cloth. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said structure further comprises a second arm lifting structure supported by said plurality of frames, said second arm lifting structure positioned in series behind said arm lifting structure to load a second covering on a large object. 
     
     
       20. A tarp-loading structure comprising:
 a plurality of frames; 
 at least one motor supported by at least one of said plurality of frames; 
 a plurality of spools, each of said plurality of spools mechanically engaging said at least one motor; and 
 an arm lifting structure supported by said plurality of frames, said arm lifting structure comprising: 
 a plurality of arms; 
 a plurality of lifting connectors, each of said plurality of lifting connectors secured on one end to one end of one of said plurality of arms and secured on a second end to one of said plurality of spools; and 
 at least one fastening roller member mounted to said plurality of arms for non-permanently securing a covering to said arm lifting structure; 
 wherein as said at least one motor is operated, each of said plurality of spools rotates to raise or lower said plurality of arms; and 
 wherein the plurality of frames are adapted to provide structural support of the building as well as being for use in applying a covering to a large object; and 
 wherein each of said at least one fastening roller member is further comprised of a quick release hanger, said quick release hanger comprised of: 
 a base member; 
 two side members; 
 an angled plate; 
 a cross plate; and 
 two side plates, wherein said angled plate and said cross plate form an opening therebetween to receive a strap, and each of said two side plates functionally engage said two side members and pivot about a pivot to non-permanently secure said strap within said quick release hanger.